The 2022 national semis to be played on Saturday April 2nd are set.
In the first tilt, Kansas which outscored Miami by 31 points in the second half to win its “quarter” by 26 points has opened a 3 plus point(s) fave vs Villanova.
The first NCAA Tournament game between Duke and North Carolina will be the second semi on Saturday.
Duke is an early 4 plus point(s) favorite in what will be an exponentially hyped game.
While it is now “even money,” that there will be a Duke vs North Carolina national semi clash, there are two other “quarters” to be played, as with Duke -4 vs Arkansas and North Carolina -8 vs amazing Saint Peter’s, one today and one tomorrow.
Today as cited here yesterday, Houston is minus 2 plus vs Villanova and there is the aforementioned Duke/Arkansas ’94 final redux.
Tomorrow Siant Peter’s, the first 15 seed to ever reach the final eight is as cited getting 8 vs North Carolina. Steve A is getting much more on N.C. to win it all. He must “hedge” some.
Tomorrow’s other tilt matches Kansas, the lone top seed to make it to this point vs Miami.
Kansas in a bid to reach their 16th national semi is a 6 point favorite vs Miami, which is bidding for its first such appearance.
North Carolina will be hoping to reach its 21st semi, Saint Peter’s its first.
Duke is seeking their 17th semi while Arkansas, as is the case with previously cited Villanova and Houston, is bidding for its 7th national semi appearance.
The two previous Duke/Arkansas NCAA Tournament clashes were “semis” or later. As cited, it was Arkansas winning the ’94 Final while Duke prevailed in a ’90 semi.
UNLV ripped Duke in the ’90 final but Duke semi’d an undefeated UNLV team on its way to their first title game win (vs Kansas) in ’91.
They won it again in ’92 on a team that included a great college player named Grant Hill. His pro efforts were less stellar and you can opine on his “announcer” work after such “gems,” as saying Gonzaga “MAY HAVE TO FOUL,” if it can not steal, facing a deficit in the last 16 seconds, as he did Thursday past.
Danny Manning, pictured above, led Kansas to the ’88 crown.
Paolo Bandero led Duke (actually bet from plus 1 to 1 point faves), and its retiring coach Mike Krzyzewski, who notched his 100th NCAA Tournament win, by 5 vs Texas Tech and will meet Arkansas (they plus 10’d, again 1 seed failure, Gonzaga–why Susan Nebraska and its consequences?!!) in a ’94 title game redux, in one regional final tomorrow.
In the other Saturday “quarter”/regional final game, an even better strictly emotional result team for Nantz, Houston, is menos 2 plus vs Villanova. The winner will gain entry to the national semis for the 7th time.
Villanova has 3 crowns while Houston has none.
Of course, Nantz and the networks are happy with a Duke win and who knows they may “hit the jackpot,” with a Duke/North Carolina “semi.” Let’s hope not, but I have again not heeded Beano’s maxim of being “willing to lose,” so look out (not the mountain near there, but Tobacco Road rivals, still 3 wins away and pretty fair odds vs, may meet later than ever and oh the hype that would yield).
For the record, Houston plus 1’d region top seed, Arizona while “Vill” covered and all teased Michigan, winning by 8 (“get it 8” said Bob Loebman, another whose life was ruined by gambling and drinking) as a 5 point “fave.”
Paolo Banchero, pictured above.
Like him or not and I have no real feeling either way, this Coach “K,” is an all-time great coach.
I regret not speaking to him (was not sure it was him but what was there to lose?!), as he sat near me, waiting for his wife Mickey to return from the bathroom, after a performance of “Beautiful” which is based on Carol King’s career.
As with Ms. King, who I definitely do like, Mr. Krzyzewski has a prolific, outstanding set of (coaching) achievements. He got over the hump in ’91 and has added 4 more crowns after that. Only John Wooden with 10 has won more.
Days back, in reporting Saint Peter’s big upset win vs Kentucky, I cited a past Peacocks player, a truly outstanding one, Elnardo Webster.
Now, sadly, news that Elnardo Webster died at a time Saint Peter’s is in the round of 16.
Death, a la ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show,’ song, is both “all around and does “take.” Doug Fox, who evokes memories of March 1987, and whose deep down kindness will overcome his propensity for BS and get him “in,” died days back.
35 years have passed since March ’87 and kickball with “no return” Alison, “Guy/Guy” trying and nearly succeeding in a suicide attempt only to live and eventually falsely accuse me and great non recorded speeches by Rabbi Harry Goder and myself.
That opening Friday when I thought “Guy/Guy” “G”one, “Jeep” Jackson of Texas El Paso hitting a big shot that at least “covered,” (he would die soon after), and Fox, “G” Man, the mercenary but flourishing “Lawyer” and me driving. I thought “Guy/Guy” gone and it hurt.
Now “Guy/Guy” “G”ot, “G” has a bad foot, “Lawyer” I suppose flourishes while I cite stuff, some, as this cryptic. As cited, Doug Fox died.
Elnardo Webster, pictured above.
The round of 16 in the 2022 NCAA Basketball Tournament is upon us.
On Thursday night in the West Regional, top seeded Gonzaga, in its 7th straight round of 16 and still looking for its first crown meets Arkansas, whose lone title was in “same calendar” 1994 vs Duke.
Speaking of Duke, then and now team coach Mike Krzyzewski, in his last season and having coached all 5 school title teams, went to (5-1) vs Michigan State, Sunday past (all I believe vs Tom Izzo, who has one title) and now Texas Tech, the ’19 heartbreak runner up, is just a one point favorite vs Duke, in the other West Regional semi-final game.
Also on Thursday, in The South Regional semis, Villanova a 3 time champion, twice under current coach and sharp dresser, Jay wright is a 5 point “fave” vs Michigan.
Villanova had made 6 national semis, including the first and so much different, far fewer teams and exponentially less publicity in 1939 while Michigan has one crown to show for 8 semis appearances.
They are a stellar (6-1) in national semis but only (1-6) in the title tilt.
That game will be followed by Arizona as just a one plus point(s) favorite vs Houston. ‘Zona won its lone crown a 5/10 #, 25 years ago in 1997 and have made 4 national semis.
Houston, the not so “closet” team of CBS lead broadcaster Jim Nantz, was a national semi-finalist last season and has made a total of 6 semis.
They have never won a crown, losing 4 times in the semis and twice in the final game.
The great player, Elvin Hayes starred at Houston.
Prolific, talented writer Keith Huff (Mad Men, ‘A Steady Rain’) has written a humorous, insightful, superb play called “Garbageman,” playing through April 10th at Chain Theatre (312 West 36th Street).
The two person cast Kirk Gostkowski (‘Dan Bandana’) and Deven Anderson (‘Buddy Maple’) is superb. There is talk within the play of “words making music,” and the duo’s timing and cadence together, makes some of a most beautiful vintage.
There will be no spoilers here and having seen ‘Garbageman,’ wanting more knowledge and perspective plus its overall excellence, makes me want to see it again. Its plot, meaning and crackling dialog kept me “company” on the drive home.
There are references to the epic film, “Strangers on a Train,” (positive) and “March Madness” basketball which I still cite, however, as is the case with fictional ‘Dan,’ am dedicated in my goal NOT to watch.
Greg Cicchino directed this show staging its moving, layered story in an entertaining, most meaningful way. I highly recommend seeing it.
Click below for more information, including how to purchase tickets.
www.chaintheatre.org › garbageman-by-keith-huffGarbageman by Keith Huff — Chain Theatre
I am “surprised” you can not hear the late, great sports personality and my friend, Beano Cook yelling (at me) from above, repeating his axiom, “you have to be willing to lose.”
Now this entails anti-betting, something Beano “practiced,” me having no bracket, and a much needed and advised restriction on betting “mucho,” however, I as usual, have messed up the proverbial — dream, which leaves one quite unfulfilled, to say the least.
I was “R’d,” thinking Robeson (Paul or Paul Jr.), Ryan/Rutgers when it was Notre Dame in the more $$$, so called play in game.
Elsewhere, I knew “they” would not allow Baylor, relatively obscure Baylor, to win the title in 2 straight seasons. Yet somehow I “did” almost nothing on North Carolina’s overtime win vs them.
Next there is Michigan, which first won as a small “fave,” vs Colorado State and then took out Tennessee yesterday, barking as a decent sized “dog.”
After the game, “Mich” coach and member of the underachieving/over rated so called “Fab 5” (want to credit Michigan and/then why not the Steve “Mr. Science” Fisher coached ’89 title team, the lone undisputed “Blue” title since at least 1948. That year also was the last time Cleveland, (until this year the Indians and now (2-0) in exhibition as the Guardians–you can bet on that stuff. I believe the great Walter Matthau did and I do, but say 2 “little/little” dollars “per”) won the World Series), Jawan Howard consoled “Tenn” player Kennedy Chandler. That is good but does not offset grabbing a Wisconsin assistant coach earlier this year. (By the way, if Ohio State prevails as a 5 point(s) or so underdog vs Villanova today, it will be a hyped (much) Ohio State vs Michigan “round of 16” clash.
Last, but certainly not least, Saint Peter’s, cited here Friday for its upset of “2” seed Kentucky, “barked” plus 8 vs Murray State, “rhyming” as just the third “15” seed (no 16 seed has gone that far, only Maryland Baltimore County has won a tournie game as such) to make the “16,” (Oral Roberts in 2020 and Florida Gulf Coast in ’13 being the others). They will face the winner of today’s Purdue/Texas game.
“Stone” said it best as I walked after the excellent show “Paradise Square,” when I informed him that I thought Saint Peter’s had shocked Kentucky, which they had–as intermission ended it looked like (85-79) Saint Peter’s in OT and it was–asking had Elnardo Webster, a St. Peter’s star 50 plus years ago, been given more playing eligibility.
As good a win as it was for 15 seed, Saint Peter’s, it was a higher level bad loss for “Ken,” and its over rated, under achieving coach, John Calipari.
Elsewhere 2021 finalists and 2022 one seeds, defending champion, Baylor and runner up Gonzaga won, the former covering, the latter not doing so.
I watched none save a second around Twilight Zone (“Leather Jackets,” another commentary on the sad fact humans so often hate and wage war time, 12:35 A.M. Eastern Time) seeing the eventual Murray State (menos 2 plus) 5 point overtime win vs the Dons of San Francisco (ode to Bill Russell, K.C. Jones and Phil Woolpert as the Dons titled in both ’55 and ’56) was still going.
| 1954–55 | San Francisco | 28–1 | 12–0 | 1st | NCAA Champion |
| 1955–56 | San Francisco | 29–0 | 14–0 | 1st | NCAA Champion |
It was going well, until the call. He found “something” and 900 dollars later, it hurts, is unfair but alas, that is life with a car as a necessity. It could be worse, but even idealistic me, gets little comfort from that for now.
On April 17, 1966, the great broadcaster Bob Murphy notes Ed Mathews and Wes Westrum are meeting, along with the umpires, at home plate.
Ed, Westrum and umpire Augie Donatelli graced the first Sports Illustrated cover in 1954.
Later or was it before, on'”Hitch” Presents,’ Martin Landau, another superb actor, is a lawyer named Ned.
William Hurt, who deserves far more uninterrupted tribute than given here yesterday, was great as a lawyer named “Ned,” in Body Heat.
Another attorney called back, he knew about Bradley, who clearly preferred Brad.
What a day, today is another.
The great Ed Mathews, who started April 17, 1964 with 464 home runs a record for third sackers, is batting.
Wes Westrum of the eventual title winning New York Giants, is the catcher, while Augie Donatelli is calling balls and strikes, among other umpiring duties.
They are above on the first Sports Illustrated cover (August 1954) and hopefully in a better place.
Surely it “hurts” (pun intended) that while others flourish and the greedy, albeit great Brady “Toms” back to pig, (a link to William Hurt is that in “The Big Chill,” their college was Michigan, also Brady’s) that William Hurt, an excellent actor, died days back, too soon at age 71.
His performances in “Chill,” and the apples/oranges winning one opposite another great, Raul Julia (he really died too soon) in “Kiss of the Spiderwoman,” were clearly great and consensus noted, however, it is in “Body Heat,” opposite Kathleen Turner and I cite Richard Crenna and an “exploded on the scene,” Mickey Rourke, that Hurt truly moved me.
I still face it, but you, Mr. Hurt, in many performances provided that “hat” for when the “you know what”/b.s./the (dis) likes of some ascending, and other “you know what” comes down too heavy.
Hopefully above, you can view, rant and maybe help. Surely the great work you left us does help, if only there was more of it, help I mean.
William Hurt, an excellent actor, pictured above.
Andy B Sports 